The Oregon Heritage Excellence Awards recognize individuals, businesses and organizations for outstanding efforts on behalf of Oregon heritage and raise the quality of heritage-oriented activities. Nominations are encouraged for exceptional and meritorious work. Special consideration is given to the development of new ideas, approaches and innovations.

Oregon State Archives, for perseverance, creativity and outstanding professionalism in reclaiming and digitizing audio from the 1967 Beach Bill hearings.

Charles Philpot, for outstanding leadership and vision in developing Antique Powerland at Brooks into an active heritage site.

City of Cottage Grove Preservation Plan Advisory Committee, for creating a comprehensive historic preservation plan with the community's heritage organizations.

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Audio Preservation Project, for its exceptional attention to cultural heritage and professional practices in digitizing older audio recordings.

Illuminate Oregon City, for its innovate approach to historic site rehabilitation, economic development and public art display.

Pacific Maritime & Heritage Center, for the decade-long grassroots effort to convert and restore a historic house-turned nightclub into a maritime center.

Salemtowne Volunteers, for their dedication and innovative practices maintaining and restoring historical markers across the state.

Sand Mountain Society, for rehabilitating historic fire lookouts in western Oregon, providing interpretation about the structures, and in promoting compatible use of nearby lands.

2013

Don Ivy, Coos Bay, for his outstanding leadership to increase understanding, appreciation, and perpetuation of traditional cultures and culturally important sites throughout Oregon.

Heceta Head Lighthouse Restoration Project, Lane County, as an exceptional example of an extensive, successful restoration project of a historically significant structure.

Kay Holbo, Eugene, for her extraordinary leadership in the preservation of Oregon’s historic cemeteries, and especially the Eugene Masonic Cemetery.

Oregon Archaeology, written by University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History archaeologists, for the book’s outstanding contribution to the field of archaeology in the state.

“Coming Home: Voices of Return and Resettlement, 1945-1965” exhibition and public programs by Oregon Nikkei Endowment, Portland, as an exceptional example of an innovative and community-based approach to exhibition development.

“History: Made by You” project, Medford by the Southern Oregon Historical Society, as an excellent example of a relevant, successful, and unique outreach program that has generated unprecedented community response.

Springdale School Restoration project, Corbett, as an example of an outstanding historic preservation project that benefits the local community.

Willamette River (Oregon City) Bridge Rehabilitation project, Oregon City, as an extraordinary example of a successful restoration of a historically significant bridge.

2012

Astoria Bicentennial Celebration, Astoria, for its year-long success marking Astoria’s 200 years of history and heritage.

Bob Boyd, Bend, for his scholarship, creativity and enthusiasm in helping people forge meaningful connections with the history of the High Desert region for 30 years.

Chambers Railroad Bridge, Cottage Grove, as an exceptional example of the preservation of a unique and significant cultural landmark that boosts heritage tourism, local transportation, and heritage efforts.

Clatsop County Housing Authority, Astoria, for its excellent work in making the Owens-Adair building safer and more energy efficient while retaining the building’s historic character.

Oregon City 2011 Citywide Historic Building Survey, Oregon City, as an outstanding example of integrating historic resources and historic building survey work into comprehensive planning efforts.

Liisa Penner, Astoria, for her efforts in preserving, promoting, and disseminating the history of Clatsop County and fostering an appreciation for local history.

World War II Veterans Historic Highway, Central Oregon, as an outstanding partnership to honor World War II veterans and promote the history and heritage of Oregon’s involvement in the war effort.

2011

Luper Cemetery Preservatopm amd Restoration Project, Eugene, for its extraordinary efforts to preserve and restore the integrity of the historic cemetery.

The Timberline Lodge Partnership of the U.S. Forest Service, The Friends of Timberline, and R.L.K. and Co., for their outstanding public/private collaboration to preserve and manage a national historic landmark.

Clatsop Community College/Columbia Pacific Preservation, for the collaboration that resulted in the establishment of certificate and degree programs in historic preservation at Clatsop CC and in a nonprofit entity that both supports and benefits from those programs.

Paul Caruana and Brian Faherty, Astoria, for their collective improvements on several historic buildings, and the even larger impact their work has had on the renewed viability of downtown Astoria.

Marcia Allen, Cottage Grove, for her lifetime accomplishments in researching, interpreting and promoting the history and heritage of Cottage Grove.

Patsy Jones, Alsea, for her exceptional work to inspire interest in the documentation, preservation and celebration of local Oregon history.

Neal Maine, Seaside, for his outstanding contributions in the preservation of Native American archaeological sites on the northern Oregon coast.

2010

In Pursuit of a Dream, a project produced by the Oregon-California Trails Association that is an outstanding example of immersive experiential learning about Oregon history.

Marlene McDonald, Philomath, for her enduring contributions and commitment to Philomath and Benton County history.

Oregon Century 1.5, Medford, a year-long series of programs by Ron Brown and KDRV-TV that educates and entertains Oregonians about their history.

Portland Railroad Preservation Association, Portland, for more than three decades of preserving and promoting railroad heritage and railroad history.

Union Street Railroad Project, Salem, for the preservation of the 1912 bridge and its conversion to an important bicycle and pedestrian way by the City of Salem.

2009

Lord and Schryver Conservancy, Salem. For preserving and interpreting the legacy of landscape architects Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver.

City of Echo. For preserving and developing the heritage and history of Echo and the surrounding area.

Oregon Civil War Graves Registration Project. For identifying, inventorying and marking the graves of Civil War veterans in Oregon. The project is led by Baker Camp #6 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Owl Ridge Trails Project. For a multi-disciplinary effort increasing knowledge and understanding of the prehistory and history of the South Santiam and Blue River headwaters. The project was a collaboration of Oregon Websites and Watersheds Project Inc. and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, which worked with several other organizations.

Roger Brandt, Cave Junction. For multi-faceted efforts to educate, promote and raise public awareness about history and heritage in southwest Oregon.

Charlene Brown, Willamina. For her tireless efforts in the founding, development and operation of the Willamina Museum of Local History.

Reeve and Lyn Hennion, Buncom. For preserving, promoting and advocating for the history and heritage of Buncom and southern Oregon.

Dirk Siedlecki, Eagle Point. For leadership in the preservation and development of historic cemeteries, including the Jacksonville Cemetery.

Local Tribal History Education Program, Coos County. For the collaborative efforts to bring knowledge and appreciation of the present and past cultures of the area's tribes to students and teachers in Coos County.

Oregon Music Project, Aurora Colony Historical Society. For preserving, documenting and restoring historic Oregon music, and enhancing public access to it through technology and public performance.

Venerable Group, Portland. For its efforts to restore vacant and underutilized historic buildings so they become catalysts for new commercial activity and neighborhood redevelopment.

Mary Gallagher, Corvallis. For outstanding individual achievement in the combined fields of heritage, preservation and museology.

Leland Gilsen, Salem. For the promotion of knowledge about and appreciation for Oregon's prehistoric past for more than 30 years.

David and Sarah Schlect, Wasco. For their stewardships, and that of their neighbors and predecessors, of the highlighly significant McDonald's Ford section of the Oregon Trail.

Rebecca Soules, Coos Bay. For her demonstrated dedication to preserving and interpreting Oregon heritage through historic cemeteries, Century Farms and Heritage Trees.

2007

Higher Ground Documentary Project, Boardman. For preserving stories from the Boardman community relocation of the 1960s.

Benton County. For its commitment to preserving the county's heritage and sharing it with the public, and for serving as a model for other counties.

Harrisburg Museum Board of Directors, Harrisburg. For its development of Heritage Park and serving as a bridge between the farming community and city residents.

Jacksonville Woodlands Association, Jacksonville. For protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Historic Jacksonville since 1989 through the establishment of the Jacksonville Woodlands Natural Park and Trail System and its related programs.

Mission Mill Museum, Salem. For the renovation and transformation of the Thomas Kay Woolen Mill building during its Saving Salem's American Treasure project.

Oregon Military Museum, Clackamas. For growing Living History Day as an event that presents Oregon history in a hands-on, easy-to-understand fashion.

Oregon National Guard. For its outstanding leadership and support during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemoration.

Tamastslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton. For the groundbreaking book Wiyaxayxt As Days Go By Wiyaakaa'awn.

Tillamook Forest Center, Oregon Department of Forestry. For the successful planning and development of the Tillamook Forest Center as a place for forest history and heritage.

Larry Landis, Corvallis. For his enthusiasm and commitment to preserving and making accessible archival materials for all people of Oregon, and for the development of the Oregon Multicultural Archives and the Northwest Digital Archives.

Julie Reese, Adams. For her dedication, advocacy and vision for heritage in Umatilla County.

Carol Harbison Samuelson, Medford. For providing outstanding assistance to Southern Oregon history for more than 20 years.

Colleen Sump, St. Paul. For the development of outstanding interpretive and educational programs at Champoeg State Heritage Area.

Sara Swanberg, Blodgett. For the creation and development of the Preserving Oregon's Artistic Heritage educational video series.